Detachable viewfinder

ABSTRACT

A viewfinder for attaching to a device having image-capturing capability has a structure for supporting an eyepiece, an engagement interface implemented on the structure to engage a complementary portion of a device having image-capture capability in a specific direction, and at least one eyepiece attached to the structure, such that the eyepiece has an axis proceeding in the specific direction with the viewfinder engaged to the device having image-capture capability.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

N/A

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is in the technical field of image-capturingdevices, such as cameras, and pertains more particularly to detachableviewfinders for such devices.

2. Description of Related Art

Since the advent of digital imaging, image-capture ability has beenadded to more and more devices. At the time of filing this patentapplication there is a very broad selection of commercially-availabledigital cameras, and most cellular telephones have digital image-captureability. In the case of many digital cameras and cell phones, one mayrefer to the digital display to see what the camera will capture as astill or as video frames if the camera function is activated, typicallyby operating a button switch. The digital display, however is sometimesa bit clumsy to see while training the camera lens on a scene tocapture, and in the case of bright sunlight, for example, may bedifficult to see. Many devices have a viewfinder, but there are manythat do not, in particular a lot of cellular telephones that include adigital camera. What is clearly needed is a detachable viewfinder forsuch devices, that may be added at times of need, and may be detachedwhen not needed.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment of the present invention a viewfinder for attaching toa device having image-capturing capability is provided, comprising astructure for supporting an eyepiece, an engagement interfaceimplemented on the structure to engage a complementary portion of adevice having image-capture capability in a specific direction, and atleast one eyepiece attached to the structure, such that the eyepiece hasan axis proceeding in the specific direction with the viewfinder engagedto the device having image-capture capability.

In one embodiment the eyepiece is a linear element having a length andan opening having an axis through the length. Also in one embodiment theeyepiece is a cylinder. In another embodiment the structure has a linearportion with a central slot through which a threaded fastener may passto engage a threaded hole in a camera body, and the eyepiece is attachedto one end of the linear portion, the slot allowing the eyepiece to bepositioned at variable distance from the camera body.

In an alternative embodiment the structure has a linear portion with acentral slot through which a threaded fastener may pass to engage athreaded hole in a camera body, and the eyepiece is attached to an endof an extension proceeding at a right angle from one end of the linearportion, the slot allowing the eyepiece to be positioned at variabledistance from the camera body.

In another alternative embodiment the structure for supporting aneyepiece comprises a linear portion having a base and sidewalls forminga groove, the sidewalls angled inward from the base to provide agripping effect when engaging a planar portion of a device. In somecases the structure for supporting an eyepiece has more than one linearportion having a base and sidewalls forming a groove, the linearportions joined at angles such that the grooved structure may envelop aportion of the planar portion of a device. There may also be a grippingmechanism associated with the groove, for applying pressure to theplanar portion when engaged.

In another aspect of the invention a method for adding a viewfinder to adevice having image-capturing capability is provided, comprising thesteps of (a) forming a structure for supporting an eyepiece; (b)implementing an engagement interface on the structure to engage acomplementary portion of the device; and (c) attaching at least oneeyepiece to the structure, such that the eyepiece has an axis proceedingin the specific direction with the viewfinder engaged to the devicehaving image-capture capability.

In one embodiment of the method the eyepiece is a linear element havinga length and an opening having an axis through the length. Also in oneembodiment the eyepiece is a cylinder.

In one embodiment the structure has a linear portion with a central slotthrough which a threaded fastener may pass to engage a threaded hole ina camera body, and the eyepiece is attached to one end of the linearportion, the slot allowing the eyepiece to be positioned at variabledistance from the camera body. In another embodiment the structure has alinear portion with a central slot through which a threaded fastener maypass to engage a threaded hole in a camera body, and the eyepiece isattached to an end of an extension proceeding at a right angle from oneend of the linear portion, the slot allowing the eyepiece to bepositioned at variable distance from the camera body.

In yet another alternative the structure for supporting an eyepiececomprises a linear portion having a base and sidewalls forming a groove,the sidewalls angled inward from the base to provide a gripping effectwhen engaging a planar portion of a device. Further there may be morethan one linear portion having a base and sidewalls forming a groove,the linear portions joined at angles such that the grooved structure mayenvelop a portion of the planar portion of a device. In some cases agripping mechanism associated with the groove, for applying pressure tothe planar portion when engaged.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a digital camera with a detachableviewfinder according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a digital camera with a detachableviewfinder according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 a is a perspective view of a folding, or “flip” phone with adetachable viewfinder in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 b shows the phone and viewfinder of FIG. 3 a fully engaged.

FIG. 3 c is a cross-section through a portion of the structure of theviewfinder in FIG. 3 a.

FIG. 4 illustrates another viewfinder in an embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a digital camera 100 with a detachableviewfinder 101 according to one embodiment of the present invention.Camera 100 in this example is directed for image capture in thedirection of arrow 108, and has a button 103 for activating capture of astill image or for initiating frame capture for video. A smaller button104 is for extending a lens mechanism, not shown as it is on theopposite side of the camera. There is in addition a button set 109 forzooming in or out with the lens mechanism. A button set 105 is formoving a cursor in a digital display 102 or for moving left, right, upor down among menu selections.

Detachable viewfinder 101 in this example has a long body 110 with alengthwise slot 106 for engaging camera 100 by a threaded hole in thebottom of the camera (not shown) which is provided in the camera forattaching the camera to a tripod assembly. A thumb screw passes frombelow through slot 106 and is threaded into the threaded hole in thebottom of the camera.

A cylindrical eyepiece 107 is attached to body 106 at one end such thatthe axis of the cylinder is generally in the direction of arrow 108.This attachment may be by welding or soldering, for example, or by otherconventional means. In some cases the angle of the cylinder of thecylinder of the eyepiece may be angled slightly vertically andhorizontally to account for parallax so that the eyepiece cylinder andthe camera lens may intersect at a desired distance. In some cases thecylindrical eyepiece may be adjustable in angle over a small rotationalrange so parallax may be adjusted as well.

In some embodiments the cylindrical eyepiece may be attached at the endof body 110 opposite to that shown in FIG. 1. In some other embodimentsthere may be a cylindrical eyepiece attached at both ends of the body,and the user may choose which eyepiece to use.

It will be apparent to the skilled person that the representation of adigital camera in FIG. 1 is exemplary only, and is meant to represent arange of different devices, many of which will have features differentthan those shown in this example. The camera represented is meant torepresent any such camera or other image capturing device that has athreaded hole in the base for attaching to a tripod, as is common amongsuch devices. The device need not be digital.

It will also be apparent to the skilled person that the length of body110 and of slot 106 may vary considerably in different versions of adetachable viewfinder, allowing the cylindrical eyepiece to be set atvarying distances from the camera to which it joined. Furthercylindrical eyepiece 107 may vary in outside and inside diameter, and inlength. In some cases the eyepiece is a simple mechanical cylinder, butin other cases there may be lenses in the cylinder. In other cases theeyepiece may be other than cylindrical, such as square or rectangular incross-section. There are many possibilities.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a digital camera 100 with a detachableviewfinder 201 according to another embodiment of the present invention.Camera 100 is the same as in FIG. 1, and is meant to represent anyimage-capturing device that has a threaded hole in the base forattaching to a tripod.

Detachable viewfinder 201 has an extended base 202 with a lengthwiseslot 204 for engaging camera 100. A second extension 203 proceeds atsubstantially a right angle to base 202 in this example, and acylindrical eyepiece 205 is attached at an upper end of extension 203.The right-angle extension allows eyepiece 205 to present at a differentaspect relative to the lens mechanism (not shown) of camera 100, and toafford a different geometry for a user. As described with reference toFIG. 1, the eyepiece may have other shape than the cylinder shown, andmay be mechanical, or may have lenses. The height of extension 203 maydiffer in different embodiments, and the angle of extension 203 withbase 202 may be other than ninety degrees. The length of base 202 andslot 204 may be different in different embodiments, such that theeyepiece might be immediately adjacent the camera, or at some distancefrom the camera. As before, the angle of attachment of the eyepiece toextension 203 may vary to adjust for parallax. In some cases extension203 and base 202 may be joined by fasteners, and therefore detachable aswell, and the eyepiece might be joined to either upward extension 203,or to base 202. In some cases there may be an upward extension 203 ateither end, or both ends, of base 202, and there may be two eyepieces.

FIG. 3 a is a perspective view of a folding, or “flip” phone 301, with adetachable viewfinder 307 in an embodiment of the present invention. Thedetachable viewfinder in this example is shown detached above the flipphone, with an arrow showing the direction of engagement. FIG. 3B showsphone 301 with the viewfinder fully engaged.

Referring back to FIG. 3 a, phone 301 has a base 302 with an I/O keypad303 as is known in the art, and a folding portion 304 having a display305 as is also known in the art. Viewfinder 307 in this embodiment has aU-shaped structure 309 formed in a manner to engage the upper part offolding portion 304 of phone 301. FIG. 3 c is a cross-section throughstructure 309 taken along line 3 c-3 c in FIG. 3 a. In one embodimentthe side panels of the groove are angled slightly inward as shown, suchthat d1 in FIG. 3 is d1 in FIG. 3 a, that is, the thickness of foldingportion 304; but d2 in FIG. 3 is somewhat less than d1 due to the slightinwardly angled sidewalls of the groove.

In many embodiments folding portion 304 is molded of a plastic materialthat is flexible when finished, such that, as viewfinder 307 engagesfolding portion 304 the sidewalls that are separated at the dimension d2expand to d1 so that the engagement may take place, and the flexing ofthe material provides a force against the opposite surfaces of foldingportion 304 to hold the viewfinder in place once engaged.

Viewfinder 307 has an eyepiece 308 attached at a convenient location asshown in FIG. 3 a, such that with the viewfinder engaged to the foldingportion the eyepiece is convenient for the user to see the field thatwill be captured when the camera is triggered to capture an image. Asdescribed above, eyepiece 308 may be joined to structure 309 at an angleto account for parallax. Further, in some embodiments the eyepiece maybe adjustable for this angle if needed, and in some embodiments theeyepiece may be moved from one location to another on structure 307.Further, there may be more than one eyepiece, and the eyepiece need notbe cylindrical as shown, but may have other shape, and in some cases mayhave a lens or lenses as well.

Further to the above, in some cases upper portion 304 of phone 301 mayhave one or more buttons or connectors in the edge region that might becovered when the viewfinder is engaged. In some cases structure 307 maybe molded to provide openings for such connectors or buttons. In somecases one viewfinder may serve for two or more telephones, but sometelephones may require a dedicated detachable viewfinder, which may bebundled with the phone when sold, or purchased separately.

It will be apparent to the skilled person that viewfinder 307 may engagetelephones and/or other devices including image-capture mechanisms andsystems, other than flip-phones as shown. It will further be apparentthat the same principles may be used to provide a viewfinder with aneyepiece attached to a single straight piece of molded material, such asis shown in FIG. 4, which illustrates a viewfinder 400 according to anembodiment of the invention, having a straight grooved portion 401 andan attached eyepiece 402. This embodiment is more universally adaptableto various existing commercial devices that have image-capturecapability, because only one edge of such a device need be engaged. Inthis version as in others, the eyepiece may be cylindrical, as shown, ormay have other shape or have lenses.

In one version of the detachable viewfinder 400, the width at the bottomof the groove is made rather large, and the angle of one or bothsidewalls inward is made rather more acute than as shown in FIG. 3 c, sothe one viewfinder might be used an a variety of devices of varyingthickness. Further still, the length of portion 401 may be rather short,such as 0.5 inches, so there is a greater freedom of placement along theedge of a device to which the viewfinder may be engaged.

It will be apparent to the skilled artisan that the viewfinders taughtin the disclosure above and the several figures provided may bemanufactured of a variety of materials, and may be made in a variety ofgeometries as well, without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention. Further, the attachment mechanisms taught may have broaderimplementation as well. For example, referring to FIG. 4, rather thanhave angled sidewalls that may be flexed, a straight grooved portion maybe provided with a spring-loaded mechanism to grip the thickness of adevice having image-capture capability. In some embodiments there may beadditional material added at the surfaces where a mechanism impinges onthe surface of a telephone or other device. Such material, for example,may be such as to prevent marking or marring the surface of the device,or may be to enhance the gripping capability. Material may also be addedfor aiding the grip of the person using the device with the detachableviewfinder. There are many possibilities.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A viewfinder for attaching to a devicehaving image-capturing capability, comprising: a structure forsupporting an eyepiece, the structure having a linear portion having abase and sidewalls forming a groove, the sidewalls angled inward fromthe base to provide a gripping effect when engaging a planar portion ofa device; an engagement interface implemented on the structure to engagea complementary portion of a device having image-capture capability in aspecific direction; and at least one eyepiece attached to the structure,such that the eyepiece has an axis proceeding in the specific directionwith the viewfinder engaged to the device having image-capturecapability.
 2. The viewfinder of claim 1 wherein the eyepiece is alinear element having a length and an opening having an axis through thelength.
 3. The viewfinder of claim 2 wherein the eyepiece is a cylinder.4. The viewfinder of claim 1 wherein the structure for supporting aneyepiece has more than one linear portion having a base and sidewallsforming a groove, the linear portions joined at angles such that thegrooved structure may envelop a portion of the planar portion of adevice.
 5. The viewfinder of claim 1 further comprising a grippingmechanism associated with the groove, for applying pressure to theplanar portion when engaged.
 6. A method for adding a viewfinder to adevice having image-capturing capability, comprising the steps of: (a)forming a structure for supporting an eyepiece wherein the structure hasa linear portion having a base and sidewalls forming a groove, thesidewalls angled inward from the base to provide a gripping effect whenengaging a planar portion of a device; (b) implementing an engagementinterface on the structure to engage a complementary portion of thedevice; and (c) attaching at least one eyepiece to the structure, suchthat the eyepiece has an axis proceeding in the specific direction withthe viewfinder engaged to the device having image-capture capability. 7.The method of claim 6 wherein the eyepiece is a linear element having alength and an opening having an axis through the length.
 8. The methodof claim 7 wherein the eyepiece is a cylinder.
 9. The method of claim 6wherein the structure for supporting an eyepiece has more than onelinear portion having a base and sidewalls forming a groove, the linearportions joined at angles such that the grooved structure may envelop aportion of the planar portion of a device.
 10. The method of claim 6further comprising a gripping mechanism associated with the groove, forapplying pressure to the planar portion when engaged.